Cheers and Jeers

Published: Friday, October 26, 2012 at 6:16 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, October 26, 2012 at 6:16 p.m.

Getting behind a good cause — That’s what at least some of state Rep. Dee Richard’s colleagues in Baton Rouge have done.

Richard, a Thibodaux independent, was able to gather 38 signatures from House members on his petition seeking a special legislative session.

That is quite an achievement, considering that such a special session would come without the request or blessing of Gov. Bobby Jindal, usually a prerequisite for a session.

Things were a little slower progressing on the Senate side, where Richard’s push for a special session bogged down. He needed 13 signatures but got just nine from senators.

Richard had a noble goal: force a statewide discussion on the many draconian cuts Jindal has made in health care.

“The fact that we are left out of this process of where cuts should be made is very disturbing to me, and I believe this is the Legislature’s only avenue of trying to get a seat at the table,” Richard said.

It’s a shame that a public official has to go to such extraordinary lengths to have a say in the process. It is an even larger shame, though, that not all of Richard’s colleagues joined him in his demand, effectively shutting the legislators and their constituents out of these significant events.

CHEERS

Breaking ground — It’s been a long time coming, but a low-income subdivision in Houma is getting closer to becoming a reality.

That should be greeted as good news by all of Houma, which has more housing options on the horizon.

The subdivision is planned for East Street, between Senator Street and Memory Lane. In all, developer S.P. LaRussa hopes to develop 226 lots, a significant number of homes aimed at families that make $45,000 or less.

The crux of the deal is a $2.7 million loan from the Terrebonne Parish Council, made possible by money the parish received through hurricane-recovery efforts.

Approval of the loan this week means LaRussa can go ahead with plans for the subdivision, which could break ground this year and start building homes early next year.

The homes will range from 1,100 1,500 square feet and will cost $125,000 to $135,000.

It can’t happen soon enough.

CHEERS

Oyster management — A new program through the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries should give the state more-accurate information about oyster harvesting, but it will require the cooperation of oyster fishermen.

The Vessel Monitoring System Pilot Program will install tracking devices on oyster boats, allowing the state to keep track of where the oystermen are working at any given time and to match that information with trip tickets to tell the state how well harvesting is going.

“The program will help the state to manage our public fisheries,” said Mike Voisin, owner of Motivatit Seafood in Houma and a member of the state’s Oyster Task Force. “We have to keep track of 1.6 million acres of public oyster grounds from Sabine Lake to east of the Mississippi River.”

The program will help the state monitor an important industry, but it will have to overcome privacy concerns expressed by the oystermen.

With any luck, they will see that the program is meant to gather information to help this industry rather than to impose on the fishermen.

<p class="bold allcaps">CHEERS</p>
<p>Getting behind a good cause — That's what at least some of state Rep. Dee Richard's colleagues in Baton Rouge have done.</p><p>Richard, a Thibodaux independent, was able to gather 38 signatures from House members on his petition seeking a special legislative session.</p><p>That is quite an achievement, considering that such a special session would come without the request or blessing of Gov. Bobby Jindal, usually a prerequisite for a session.</p><p>Things were a little slower progressing on the Senate side, where Richard's push for a special session bogged down. He needed 13 signatures but got just nine from senators.</p><p>Richard had a noble goal: force a statewide discussion on the many draconian cuts Jindal has made in health care.</p><p>“The fact that we are left out of this process of where cuts should be made is very disturbing to me, and I believe this is the Legislature's only avenue of trying to get a seat at the table,” Richard said.</p><p>It's a shame that a public official has to go to such extraordinary lengths to have a say in the process. It is an even larger shame, though, that not all of Richard's colleagues joined him in his demand, effectively shutting the legislators and their constituents out of these significant events.</p><h3>CHEERS</h3>
<p>Breaking ground — It's been a long time coming, but a low-income subdivision in Houma is getting closer to becoming a reality.</p><p>That should be greeted as good news by all of Houma, which has more housing options on the horizon.</p><p>The subdivision is planned for East Street, between Senator Street and Memory Lane. In all, developer S.P. LaRussa hopes to develop 226 lots, a significant number of homes aimed at families that make $45,000 or less.</p><p>The crux of the deal is a $2.7 million loan from the Terrebonne Parish Council, made possible by money the parish received through hurricane-recovery efforts.</p><p>Approval of the loan this week means LaRussa can go ahead with plans for the subdivision, which could break ground this year and start building homes early next year.</p><p>The homes will range from 1,100 1,500 square feet and will cost $125,000 to $135,000.</p><p>It can't happen soon enough.</p><h3>CHEERS</h3>
<p>Oyster management — A new program through the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries should give the state more-accurate information about oyster harvesting, but it will require the cooperation of oyster fishermen.</p><p>The Vessel Monitoring System Pilot Program will install tracking devices on oyster boats, allowing the state to keep track of where the oystermen are working at any given time and to match that information with trip tickets to tell the state how well harvesting is going.</p><p>“The program will help the state to manage our public fisheries,” said Mike Voisin, owner of Motivatit Seafood in Houma and a member of the state's Oyster Task Force. “We have to keep track of 1.6 million acres of public oyster grounds from Sabine Lake to east of the Mississippi River.”</p><p>The program will help the state monitor an important industry, but it will have to overcome privacy concerns expressed by the oystermen.</p><p>With any luck, they will see that the program is meant to gather information to help this industry rather than to impose on the fishermen.</p><p>Editorials represent the opinions of</p><p>the newspaper, not of any individual.</p>